Ozark Regional Transit (ORT) offers free ridership to kids from Memorial Day until Labor Day each year. Since the inception of the “Kids-Ride-Free” program in 2006, ridership has increased, with a few exceptions, every year.
This summer, ORT set a record for ridership in this program this year with 7,191 kids riding free this past summer; a 12 percent increase over last year and a 50 percent increase since 2011.
This increase is likely attributed to greater familiarity with the program, seven additional routes in the last two years and a small advertising campaign performed in May of this year.
It is hoped that the program will continue to grow, allowing access to aquatic centers, libraries and other entertainment venues, as well as to multiple free-lunch programs at area schools during the summer months.
The program is limited to ages 17 and under, with those under 12 being required to be accompanied by an older guardian.
